Double auricles of the right atrium: a unique anatomic deformity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Anatomic deviations, especially those detected during the course of an operation, are medically intriguing, as they raise concerns about their clinical significance and putative complications.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present, to our knowledge, for the first time a case of an anatomic deviation in the form of a second right atrial auricle in a 70 year-old, coronary bypass-operated male Caucasian patient of Greek origin. No complications were noted intra-or postoperatively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A second right atrial auricle was found intraoperatively, without causing any clinical complications, or obstructing the normal course of a surgical procedure.</p

Exciton Dynamics in LH1 and LH2 of Rhodopseudomonas Acidophila and Rhodobium Marinum Probed with Accumulated Photon Echo and Pump-Probe Measurements

Exciton dynamics in the B850 and B875 bands of isolated complexes of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila (strain 10050 and 7050) and in the B875 band of isolated complexes of Rhodobium marinum were investigated by means of accumulated photon echo and pump-probe techniques at different temperatures and wavelengths. For all three systems, the optical dephasing time T2 was found to be very similar: at 4.2 K, T2 is 116 and 106 ps for the B850 and B875 bands of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila, respectively, and 93 ps for the B875 band of Rhodobium marinum. The rapid dephasing, which displays glassy character, is a consequence of the strong pigment-protein interactions that arise through the rather short distances in these complexes. The observed dephasing time at the red edge of the B850 band of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila at 4.2 K reveals the existence of spectral diffusion in this system. From the wavelength dependence of the pump-probe signal in the B875 LH1 band of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila at 3 K it is concluded that energy transfer between energetically inequivalent LH1 rings occurs on a time scale of several tens picoseconds, while energy trapping takes place in about 250 ps.

An alternate solution for the treatment of ascending aortic aneurysms: the wrapping technique

Background: The aortic Dacron wrapping technique is a surgical technique used under certain circumstances in cases of ascending aorta dilatation. Herein, we are presenting our experience on the method performed on multimorbid patients who denied major aortic surgery. Methods: We included in our series 7 patients (5 male-2 female) with mild to moderate ascending aortic dilatation, who were operated with the wrapping technique. One patient was submitted to biological aortic valve replacement during the same procedure. The number of conventionally operated patients during the same period (2 years) was 21. Results: Mortality during the 18-months follow-up control was 0%. One patient had to be operated with biological aortic valve replacement 18 months after the initial wrapping operation, although the diameter of her ascending aorta remained stable. Conclusions: The Dacron wrapping technique is a method that can alternatively be used in multimorbid patients with mild to moderate ascending aortic dilatation without dissecting elements and has generally good results